Martin Gernat was a revelation last season. A complete unknown when drafted in the fifth round by the Edmonton Oilers, the Slovakian rearguard was soon on his way to the River City after the Oil Kings also targeted him in the CHL Import Draft later that week.

Right off the bat, Gernat (pronounced: GAHR-nat) made an impression on the ice with his offensive game, and off the ice with his ready smile. As the season wore on the towering defender visibly improved his all-around game before our eyes, winding up his first North American campaign with superb totals of 55 points in 60 games and a +41 rating. He then pounded home 7 goals in the playoffs as the Oil Kings rolled to the WHL title.

So what could he do for an encore? Alas, so far the answer to that question is “nothing”, as Gernat underwent shoulder surgery in September that will sideline him right into the new year. In recent weeks he has returned to Edmonton and has begun to skate with the Oil Kings as he gradually works his way back into condition. Last week he graciously agreed to our request for an interview.

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Cult of Hockey: Gotta ask you about your shoulder, how’s it feeling?

Martin Gernat: It’s getting better; I started physio when I came here to Edmonton. It’s much better right now, I’m feeling a little bit more stronger. I need to put some muscle there and then I’ll be ready to play again.

CoH: What type of shoulder injury was it?

MG: It was the AC joint. They (replaced) my ligaments from there with a new one from my biceps.

CoH: Does your bicep hurt as well?

MG: Sometimes it’s a little bit sore but it’s not that bad.

CoH: When do you expect to return to practice?

MG: I’ve been skating already but without equipment. Maybe a couple of weeks I’ll start skating with the guys. Playing? I don’t know.

CoH: January?

MG: I don’t know. Maybe.

CoH: The Oil Kings have missed you, obviously. When you get back, do you have any idea, do you expect to play with Griffin Reinhart? David Musil?

MG: I just read in newspapers that I might make the pair with Griff. That would be nice, he’s a real good defenceman, so that will be again a big experience. I think they need offensive guys on defence. If I can play with a really defensive guy who can be behind me when I go on a rush, if I’m playing with David Musil or Griffin, I know these guys are behind me and I can help out more on offence.

CoH: What do you learn by playing with players like that, top draft picks like Reinhart, Musil, Keegan Lowe?

MG: I think we are a really good group. It’s not a competition; we can all help each other. We are one team, we want to be the best and play together.

CoH: What are the strengths of your own game?

MG: I prefer the offensive play, to help out on the powerplay, to make good passes from the defensive zone under pressure, and be a leader on defence too.

CoH: What do you most need to work on?

MG: I need to put some muscle on my body first (laughs), and then I think I need to improve in defensive zone. That’s going to be an important thing this year.

CoH: You’re 6’4 or 6’5?

MG: I think 6’5 … 195 cm.

CoH: What about your weight?

MG: 199.

CoH: What’s your target? What do you think you can carry when you’re 22 years old?

MG: I want to be like 210, 215, 220 … (laughs). I need to be stronger, that will be important to my career.

CoH: Any talk of a contract with the Oilers yet?

MG: We are in touch. I have to be healthy first, and then we can start talking about it.

CoH: How does it help your career to be here in Edmonton that has your NHL rights, and to be playing for the Oil Kings?

MG: I think it was the best part when I was drafted by the Oilers, because I am under eye here, their guys are watching all games. They help me a lot of course, I can talk with their guys after games.

CoH: Rick Carriere has a program for you?

MG: Yeah, I have an IDP [Individual Development Program]. So I’m trying my best in this program.

CoH: The Oilers have a lot of promising defencemen in their system, with Marincin, Klefbom, Musil, Simpson, and of course Justin Schultz. What do you have to do to stand out in a group as prominent as that?

MG: I just want to play my game, just get stronger and work my way up into the AHL and then NHL. Those guys are really good; I’ve been watching Justin Schultz, he’s having a great season.

CoH: What is the hardest thing for you as an import player coming over from Slovakia? Is it language, culture, homesickness? What was the toughest thing for you to deal with, especially last year?

MG: I think it was everything. I came here, I had a little bit of English that I learned in school, but it was British English so a little bit different. I had at the start a couple problems. But right now I’m all right here, I have a lot of friends, I have a real nice billet family that care about me [the Sheen family], and I’m glad I can be here.

CoH: Last year you were good pals with Kristians Pelss, are you still in contact with him?

MG: Yeah, yeah, we are still in touch. A couple of times we made some Skype calls, but I really miss him.

CoH: I’m sure! Have you heard of his suspension?

MG: Yeah, I gave him questions but he didn’t really tell me what happened, you have to see what happened there.

CoH: I tried to find video on the Internet but there’s nothing**. Did he feel he got a bad deal?[**Note: This clip of the incident subsequently surfaced.]

MG: Yeah, I think so. For a high stick, 21 games is too much.

CoH: No World Juniors for you this year, obviously, but how are Slovakia? Any star players we should be watching for?

MG: Yeah, sure. We got a couple of new players. Martin Reway is playing in Quebec League right now, he’s a ’95 so he will be drafted this year. Marko Dano is playing for Bratislava in KHL, he’s a very talented guy. So I think we’ve got a pretty good team, but we’re missing a lot of guys from last year.

CoH: You guys had a terrific run last year, making it into the medal round.

MG: Yeah, I don’t know how many years it was since we had made the quarter final, so it was a big deal in Slovakia.

CoH: How is hockey in Slovakia generally? Is it on the way up, down, or just kind of level?

MG: It’s much expensive for first-year players, prices for hockey gear went up. We don’t have as many hockey schools as before.

CoH: You’re old enough to remember when Slovakia were World Champions in 2002, what a wonderful win that was … I’m a Canadian, but I think that was my favourite World Championships that our country didn’t win, just because of how Slovakia got screwed after the Velvet Revolution, it was terrible how they got put in the C Pool, it was very unfair. So it seemed like justice!

MG: I remember, I was in the house with my family, it was really fun, I was jumping everywhere when we won these games.

CoH: All three games were miraculous wins, Canada, Sweden, and Russia …

MG: I remember the game with Sweden, when Richard Lintner, a defenceman, won the shootout by scoring a goal, it was amazing. So many people were celebrating; it was a great atmosphere back home.

CoH: Are you going home for the holidays?

MG: Yeah I will go home, visit with the family. I’ve got four days. I’ll take a couple of physio sessions and be skating with my old team in Presov.

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